Gerontology HESI Practice Questions With Complete
Solutions Graded A+
A frail, elderly client is admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Which
finding is most important for the registered nurse (RN) to report to the healthcare
provider?
A. Fever and chills
B. Confusion and dehydration
C. Crackles in the lung fields
D. Nausea and vomiting
B. Confusion and dehydration
Rationale: Confusion and dehydration (B) are findings of inadequate oxygenation and
perfusion in this frail elderly client. (are all common with pneumonia, but the most
important finding is confusion and evidence of dehydration, which require treatment for
this frail elderly client.
A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse (RN) if they have to watch their
salt intake because food does not taste as good as it used to so they have to
season most foods. What information should the RN offer the couple?
D. Taste buds are often dull due to atrophy so older clients should use other seasonings
instead of salt.
Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with normal aging, which influences an older client's
sensitivity to taste and is often compensated for the use of stronger tasting seasonings.
(
After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that was ineffective, a frail, elderly
client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted for
pneumonia. The client has a long history of smoking and still smokes a pack of
cigarettes a day. Which finding should the registered nurse (RN) report to the
healthcare provider?
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
Rationale: With pneumonia, crackles in the lungs and low O2 saturation, can impact
adequate oxygenation, which should be reported to the Health Care Provider.
An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility. The family
explains to the registered nurse (RN) that the client is unmanageable and always
confused, disoriented and depressed. The client asks the RN repeatedly, "Where
am I?". How should the RN respond?
A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living community.
Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best response for a client who is confused
because the response is consistent and true.
, A new resident in an assisted living facility is an older client who is experiencing
short-term memory loss and confusion. Which activity should the registered
nurse (RN) schedule the client to do during the day?
D. Daily exercise group
Rationale: A daily exercise group (D) allows the client to mirror the leader and
minimizes the client's stress to remember.
The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older female client
with end stage Alzheimer's disease, who recently fractured her hip. What
technique should the registered nurse (RN) use to determine the client's pain?
C. Observe for facial grimacing
Rationale: Observing for facial grimacing (C) is the best method for evaluating pain for a
client who cannot communicate due to Alzheimer disease.
An older male client arrives at the clinic for an annual physical examination.
While the nurse assesses the client, the client states that he is having intimacy
problems with his wife. Which information should the nurse provide to elicit more
information from the client?
A. Query client to clarify the client's idea of an intimacy problem.
Rationale: Clarification of the client's concern is needed to appropriately address the
specific concern about intimacy issues (A).
The registered nurse (RN) is caring for an older female client with a 20 year
history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who is admitted for carpel tunnel release.
Which finding associated with RA should the RN document?
B. Small joint involvement in fingers.
Rationale: Small joint involvement (B) is common in rheumatoid arthritis.
The registered nurse (RN) is re-enforcing discharge instructions with the family of
an older client who was recently admitted for an intestinal obstruction. Which
statement indicates that the family understands the instructions?
C. Report abdominal distention, constipation, or any nausea and vomiting to the
healthcare provider.
Rationale: (C) are symptoms that occur with intestinal obstruction and should be
addressed immediately.
An older client is transferred to a telemetry unit after placement of a pacemaker.
What action should the registered nurse (RN) take first?
A. View incision site
B. Obtain a blood pressure
C. Establish telemetry monitoring
D. Evaluate client for pain
C. Establish telemetry monitoring.
Rationale: The first action is to establish continuous telemetry monitoring (C) to ensure
the pacemaker is functioning properly.
Solutions Graded A+
A frail, elderly client is admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Which
finding is most important for the registered nurse (RN) to report to the healthcare
provider?
A. Fever and chills
B. Confusion and dehydration
C. Crackles in the lung fields
D. Nausea and vomiting
B. Confusion and dehydration
Rationale: Confusion and dehydration (B) are findings of inadequate oxygenation and
perfusion in this frail elderly client. (are all common with pneumonia, but the most
important finding is confusion and evidence of dehydration, which require treatment for
this frail elderly client.
A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse (RN) if they have to watch their
salt intake because food does not taste as good as it used to so they have to
season most foods. What information should the RN offer the couple?
D. Taste buds are often dull due to atrophy so older clients should use other seasonings
instead of salt.
Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with normal aging, which influences an older client's
sensitivity to taste and is often compensated for the use of stronger tasting seasonings.
(
After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that was ineffective, a frail, elderly
client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted for
pneumonia. The client has a long history of smoking and still smokes a pack of
cigarettes a day. Which finding should the registered nurse (RN) report to the
healthcare provider?
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
Rationale: With pneumonia, crackles in the lungs and low O2 saturation, can impact
adequate oxygenation, which should be reported to the Health Care Provider.
An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility. The family
explains to the registered nurse (RN) that the client is unmanageable and always
confused, disoriented and depressed. The client asks the RN repeatedly, "Where
am I?". How should the RN respond?
A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living community.
Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best response for a client who is confused
because the response is consistent and true.
, A new resident in an assisted living facility is an older client who is experiencing
short-term memory loss and confusion. Which activity should the registered
nurse (RN) schedule the client to do during the day?
D. Daily exercise group
Rationale: A daily exercise group (D) allows the client to mirror the leader and
minimizes the client's stress to remember.
The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older female client
with end stage Alzheimer's disease, who recently fractured her hip. What
technique should the registered nurse (RN) use to determine the client's pain?
C. Observe for facial grimacing
Rationale: Observing for facial grimacing (C) is the best method for evaluating pain for a
client who cannot communicate due to Alzheimer disease.
An older male client arrives at the clinic for an annual physical examination.
While the nurse assesses the client, the client states that he is having intimacy
problems with his wife. Which information should the nurse provide to elicit more
information from the client?
A. Query client to clarify the client's idea of an intimacy problem.
Rationale: Clarification of the client's concern is needed to appropriately address the
specific concern about intimacy issues (A).
The registered nurse (RN) is caring for an older female client with a 20 year
history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who is admitted for carpel tunnel release.
Which finding associated with RA should the RN document?
B. Small joint involvement in fingers.
Rationale: Small joint involvement (B) is common in rheumatoid arthritis.
The registered nurse (RN) is re-enforcing discharge instructions with the family of
an older client who was recently admitted for an intestinal obstruction. Which
statement indicates that the family understands the instructions?
C. Report abdominal distention, constipation, or any nausea and vomiting to the
healthcare provider.
Rationale: (C) are symptoms that occur with intestinal obstruction and should be
addressed immediately.
An older client is transferred to a telemetry unit after placement of a pacemaker.
What action should the registered nurse (RN) take first?
A. View incision site
B. Obtain a blood pressure
C. Establish telemetry monitoring
D. Evaluate client for pain
C. Establish telemetry monitoring.
Rationale: The first action is to establish continuous telemetry monitoring (C) to ensure
the pacemaker is functioning properly.
